I want to take issue with some of Michael Levy's premises in his posting on
diversity. These are the background premises, and not the conclusions he
reaches, which are somewhat nebulous, and I think must be with the actual
diversity of the situations different groups are in considered.

First of all, about 23 or 24 institutions or groups were represented at the
Workshop, not 40-50 -- maybe next time!

Second of all the statement that none of the people there came from "poor"
backgrounds completely flummoxed me: How could Michael or anyone else,
except by incidental and accidental information one may have happened to
assimilate over years of contact with these same people, know that? Are
people who have very little money supposed to wear a special armband or
something? Are people who are living really really close to the edge
supposed to look miserable and thereby reveal themselves? Should their
simple clothes be dirty ones? I do happen to know that the people at the
Workshop in fact came from all sorts of backgrounds, because I am personally
acquainted with many of them.